A 2022 Toyota Tundra owner, Greg, found himself in an unexpected situation. His relatively new truck, manufactured between November 2021 and February 2022, was part of a recall affecting over 98,000 vehicles due to potential engine block debris. As a result, Greg had to surrender his Tundra for engine replacement, and Toyota offered him a 2025 RAV4 Hybrid as a loaner.
"I just surrendered my ‘22 Tundra CrewMax for its new engine. No time frame. Toyota put me in a ‘25 Hybrid RAV4 at my request. Time to save a little gas money," wrote Greg on the Toyota Tundra Nation Facebook group.
Toyota, a brand synonymous with reliability, has recently found itself in a rather unfortunate predicament. A significant recall affecting over 98,000 2022 Tundra trucks has tarnished the company's pristine image. The issue stems from potential engine block debris that could lead to serious engine problems.
While recalls are not uncommon in the automotive industry, the scale of this particular one, especially for a brand like Toyota, is noteworthy. It raises questions about quality control measures and the rigorous testing processes that Toyota is renowned for.
One of the most perplexing aspects of this recall is the choice of loaner vehicles. Toyota has opted to provide this affected Tundra owner with RAV4 Hybrids at his request.
When asked if it was going to cost him Greg said "Nope. It's a warranty recall. It even covers the loaner."
This Toyota Tundra is only two years old and needs a motor. I can't imagine how I’d feel if it was mine. I’m glad that they’re covering it though. As I said about 98,000 Toyota Tundras are recalled for machining debris in the block. Greg says "98,600 Tundras manufactured from Nov 2021-Feb 2022 to be exact. Because that's the time frame where Toyota found instances where issues occurred with cleaning out the engine blocks. Not all 98,600 have milling debris. They may or may not, but Toyota is not taking any chances. Toyota's best estimate is 1% of those recalled engines will have debris in them."
When asked why Toyota gave him a RAV4 instead of a similar CrewMax Tundra, Greg replied, "They were going to give me a 2025 Limited CrewMax, but I asked for the RAV4. Save some money while I’m waiting." He says he drives 100+ miles daily. The RAV4 is a gas saver here. Greg says his 2022 Tundra was getting 17-20 MPG, while RAV4 is getting 35-40 MPG.
As we look ahead, it is crucial to remember that even the most reliable brands can encounter challenges. However, it is how they respond to these challenges that truly defines them. Toyota has a long history of overcoming adversity, and we hope that this time will be no different.
Also see: 7,000 Miles In, My Brand New 2024 Toyota Tundra Turns Into a Warranty Battleground (Seeking Advice!).
Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.
Image source: Greg's 2022 CrewMax Toyota Tundra, which he surrendered, referenced above in the group.